How Sydney Dozier Built Renaissance Marketing Group into an All-Women Agency Helping Founder-Led Brands Be Seen

Meet Sydney Dozier, founder of Renaissance Marketing Group, an all-women agency in Nashville specializing in social media strategy, content creation, and full platform management for founder-led brands. Sydney started Renaissance over a decade ago after leaving a corporate role that did not feel aligned, and what began as a one-woman operation has grown into a team helping brands step into their next level of visibility and growth. She also hosts The Renaissance Podcast and created The Renaissance Women's Summit.

What sets Sydney's agency apart is a belief she has lived for eleven years now: businesses do not grow because of perfect marketing plans, they grow because of real connection. Renaissance has trademarked its name, moved into a new Nashville office, and is preparing for its 7th Women's Summit, all while holding to the same core idea Sydney started with, that you are not just building a business, your business is building you too.

Please share a brief introduction and your business:

Hi, I'm Sydney Dozier, founder and CEO of Renaissance Marketing Group.

I started my business over a decade ago after leaving a corporate role that didn't feel aligned, and what began as a one-woman operation has grown into an all-women team helping brands step into their next level of visibility and growth.

At Renaissance Marketing Group, we specialize in social media strategy, content creation, and full platform management for founder-led brands. Our approach is rooted in storytelling, consistency, and building real connection. Not just posting content, but creating a digital presence that actually moves the needle.

Beyond the agency, I host The Renaissance Podcast and created The Renaissance Women's Summit, where we bring women entrepreneurs together for real conversations and tangible business growth.

At the core of everything I do is this belief: you're not just building a business... your business is building you too. And I'm passionate about helping women create brands and lives that feel as good as they look.

Take us back to when you launched. What was your marketing strategy?

When I first launched my business, my marketing strategy was simple... I got myself in rooms. I was going to Chamber of Commerce events, local networking meetups, anything where I could be face-to-face with other business owners. And what I quickly realized was that my business didn't grow because of a perfectly crafted marketing plan... It grew because of a real connection. People were hiring me because they trusted me. Because they met me, had a conversation with me, and could feel the level of care and intention I brought to what I do. And that insight has stayed with me ever since. It's actually one of the reasons I created The Renaissance Women's Summit. I saw firsthand how powerful proximity is... what happens when you put the right women in the right room together. That's how businesses grow. That's how confidence is built. That's how opportunities are created. So no, it didn't go as "planned"... but it worked exactly the way it was supposed to.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

Absolutely not. I didn't even know what an entrepreneur was until I was probably a year into building my business.

I kind of found myself in it. But once I got a taste of what it felt like to create something from nothing, to have people believe in what I was offering, and to see real results from the work... something clicked.

And honestly, autonomy changed everything for me. The ability to create my own path, make my own decisions, and build a future that felt aligned... I couldn't unsee that.

I haven't looked back in 11 years.

Are you a mamaprenista?

Yes, I am... I have a 3.5 year old and a 1 year old, and becoming a mom has completely shifted my "why."

I had my business for 7 years before having kids, so in many ways, my business is my first baby... and it always will be. But now, everything runs through a different filter.

If your "why" is your children, and creating a life of freedom and autonomy so you can actually be present with them, then my biggest advice is this:

Be incredibly intentional with your time. Be rigid with your schedule. Protect it. Not everything deserves a spot on your calendar. Say no more than you say yes. And truly live by the filter of: if it's not a hell yes, it's a no. Because every yes is taking you away from something else... and usually, that something else matters more. You can build a beautiful business and be a present mom... but it requires boundaries, discipline, and getting really honest about what actually moves the needle in your life and your business.

What accomplishments are you the most proud of to date in your business?

The accomplishment I'm most proud of is the team I've built. They are truly incredible. I don't have to micromanage them... and honestly, I would never want to. There's a deep level of trust, both from me and from our clients, and that's something I don't take lightly. I hear it all the time from our clients, not just about how talented they are, but how kind they are. And that means everything to me. Because yes, we are experts at what we do. Yes, we care about results. But at the end of the day, the way we treat people matters just as much. Kindness is something I want our brand to be known for. And seeing that lived out through my team every single day... that's what I'm most proud of.

What is one thing you wish you had known when you started your Entreprenista journey?

That you will set out to build your business, but it will actually build you.

If you've raised capital for your business already, what are some of your best tips or lessons learned?

N/A. Bootstrapped.

When hiring, what is your go-to interview question?

My go-to interview question is: What lights you up? How and where do you find joy in your work and outside of it?

That question tells me so much more than a resume ever could. It gives me a real look into who someone is, what drives them, and how they show up in their life... not just their job.

One of our core values at Renaissance is Find the Joy. Because for me, joy isn't about being happy all the time. It's about having something you can come back to... something that grounds you, even on the hard days. And I want to build a team of people who know how to connect with that.

A few other hiring tips that have shaped how I build my team: Hire for energy and alignment, not just experience. Skills can be taught, but the way someone thinks, communicates, and shows up is everything. Look for people who care. You can feel it in how they talk about their work, their relationships, and the little details. Pay attention to how they make you feel. If someone brings a sense of calm, positivity, and ownership into the conversation, that usually translates into how they operate day to day. And finally... kindness is non-negotiable. We can teach strategy, we can refine skillsets, but we don't compromise on how we treat people.

What did you do before starting your own business?

Before I started my business, my path looked very different. I moved to Nashville at 19 with $500 and a dream of becoming a singer-songwriter. That chapter of my life taught me so much about creativity, storytelling, and putting yourself out there... even when no one is watching yet. Over time, I realized I could channel that same creative energy into something new. I fell in love with social media marketing because it felt so similar to songwriting. You're still telling a story, still trying to connect, still trying to make someone feel something... just through a different medium. That passion led me into a role as a marketing director at a museum in Nashville, which really became my breakout moment in social media. I got to build, experiment, and see firsthand how powerful digital storytelling could be for a brand. From there, Renaissance Marketing Group was born in December 2014, taking clients in January 2015... combining creativity with strategy to help other founders tell their stories in a way that actually grows their business.

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

Honestly, I was tired of building someone else's vision... and I knew I was capable of building my own. I had this moment where I realized I was pouring so much energy, creativity, and care into something that I didn't own. And at the same time, I could feel this pull that I was meant to create something for myself. I didn't have it all figured out, but I knew one thing for sure... I was ready to bet on myself.

Do you have any recent wins?

Yes, so many!

One of the biggest wins is that we officially trademarked the word "Renaissance" to be associated with what we do in marketing, entrepreneurship, and conferences in business. That felt like such a full-circle moment... taking something that has always been at the heart of our brand and making it truly ours.

We also moved into the cutest new office in Nashville, right in the middle of a small business district. Being surrounded by other founders and creatives every day has brought a whole new energy to our team and our work.

And this year, we're celebrating our 7th Renaissance Women's Summit on September 10th in Nashville. That room is so special... the kind of room that changes things for you. If you're a woman in business, you need to be in it.

What's one app on your phone that you cannot live without?

Slack! It creates amazing boundaries in my business between my team and my clients. My tip - have communication boundaries. Just because our phones are glued to us doesn't mean we have to let them own us.

Who are your customers?

My customers are founder-led brands and women entrepreneurs who are ready to be seen. Typically, they're in that stage where the business is working... but their online presence isn't fully reflecting the level they're operating at. They've outgrown DIY content, they don't have the time to consistently show up, or they know there's more opportunity on social media that they're not tapping into yet. I work with service-based businesses, personal brands, and growing companies who understand the value of visibility and trust, and want a strategic partner to help them build both. At the core, my clients care about connection. They want content that actually resonates, attracts the right audience, and turns attention into real growth.

Sydney's story is a reminder that the businesses that last are usually the ones built on real connection rather than perfectly crafted plans, and that an agency culture rooted in kindness is not a soft positioning, it is a competitive advantage clients can feel. We are so glad to have her in the Entreprenista community and cannot wait to watch Renaissance Marketing Group continue to grow.

Want to connect with founders like Sydney? Visit the Entreprenista League to explore our community and discover more stories of women building businesses that truly matter.